B Lab Global Announces New Lead Executive, Eleanor Allen, Accelerating Mission to Make Business a Force for Good
NEW YORK, 9 March 2022 — B Lab, a global network of organizations transforming the economic system, announced today the appointment of Eleanor Allen as the new Lead Executive. A seasoned business leader in both the private and public sector, Allen brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of global impact work. For its over 15 years of existence, B Lab has operated as a founder-led organization; this appointment marks a seminal moment for B Lab and the B Corp movement as it works to shift power and build a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet.
“Business plays an essential role in addressing the social and environmental crises mounting worldwide, and as a result B Lab’s work to shift the behavior, culture, and structural underpinnings of capitalism has never been more critical,” Allen said. “I am committed in this new role to supporting and mobilizing businesses that recognize that profit and purpose can be achieved in tandem.”
"Eleanor is a true servant leader with a demonstrated ability to balance empathy, curiosity, and inclusion with speed and decisiveness,” said B Lab co-founders Andrew Kassoy and Bart Houlahan, who will remain at B Lab as board members and senior advisors to Allen. “We are thrilled that Eleanor has chosen to bring her extraordinary global experience to the B Corp movement, and to support her as part of a constellation of leaders in our global network who are changing our global economic system so that it serves society.”
In her role as Lead Executive, Allen will drive B Lab strategic priorities including evolving the B Corp standards, promoting globally inclusive policies, and fostering innovative partnerships to meet unprecedented interest in the B Corp movement. Allen also brings deep experience working in both a purpose-driven company aligned with B Corp values and a public company that maximized the needs of shareholders.
Prior to joining B Lab, Allen served as Chief Executive Officer for Water for People, where she advanced the nonprofit’s mission to help people bring clean water and sanitation solutions to their communities. Allen also acted as Global Business Group Leader for Arcadis, a global design and engineering company focused on sustainable and natural-built assets. She has received numerous business and nonprofit community accolades, including Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business and Distinguished Alumna at the Academy of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley.
Further, as B Lab transitions from a founder-led organization, the organization is also moving to independent board governance. As such, B Lab is pleased to announce that Debra Dunn, B Lab’s longest-standing board member and world-class executive with extensive leadership experience in both the business world and the social sector, has accepted the role of Board Chair. B Lab co-founders Andrew Kassoy and Bart Houlahan will also work to ensure a smooth and seamless transition and continue to serve as senior advisors to Allen and as board members.
For more information on B Lab Global, please visit https://www.bcorporation.net/.
Media Contact: press@bcorporation.net
About B Lab: B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our community includes 400,000 workers in over 4,700 B Corps across 78 countries and 155 industries, and more than 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager. B Lab has created and led efforts to pass over 50 corporate statutes globally that enable stakeholder governance, with over 10,000 companies using the legal framework. To learn more and join the movement, visit www.bcorporation.net.